terryc wrote...

>Suggestions wanted.
>
>I need to sketch a plan of a land plot for an erection by a
>contractor. the 'erection' can be described as three to five rectangles
>with ramps between them. Ancillary data to be plotted/drawn is building
>sides, pathway and drive way. placement of shrubbery is optional. I'm
>really after a vector based program.
>
>Rant/Long story: Similar simple tasks I need to do irregularly.
>Sadly, "linux" has never had a program that provides that functionality
>and I've always had to fulfill the need from the MS world.
>
>I come from the world of drafting where first you define your scale,
>then draw up your plan to scale. the problem there is I've spent the
>last three days intermittently looking at eight CAD/sketching programs.
>
>Bummer, as nothing 'sets a scale' any more. Apparently the 'modern'
>approach is to describe it in 'elements' of real world dimensions and
>then scale the result. Reasonable, good idea, BUT, nothing has a simple
>'element' creation module.
>
>I believe it isn't my webfu that is failing, but any of my searches for
>'element creation in XYZ' at the best turned up a response to a
>similar question that was ignored.
>
>Hence I'm looking for suggestions.of a program that might work in a
>timely manner.
>
>In a practical sense, I could pick up my A4 drafting board, draw
>it, scan the result and send it. Changes are expected and hence a
>digital version would be better.

Hi terryc,

I didn't understand everything you said above, especially what an
"element" is.

I use Inkscape every day to create SVG images. If you're really doing 2
dimensions and not a 2 dimensional portrayal of 3 dimensions (with
vanishing point, etc), SVG images are excellent.

If, by "setting the scale", you mean being able to redefine the grid,
then you're right, Inkscape can't do that. But what you *can* do is
scale the group your rectangles are inside of.

View the attached SVG file within your favorite text editor, and note
the line saying:

transform="scale(2)"

I put that line in with a text editor. The rest I created with
Inkscape. So I can grow or shrink the whole drawing to conform with
whatever scale I want.

As you can see from viewing this file in Inkscape, more work has to be
done because the newly scaled group has to be moved to once again fit
inside the A4 drawing. For a simple drawing like this, that's also
easy. See this web page:

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/SVG/Tutorial/Basic_Transformations

Like I say, I didn't exactly understand what you need, but just in case
this is it, I can tell you I've had a good time with Inkscape the last
10 years.

HTH,

SteveT

Steve Litt
Spring 2021 featured book: Troubleshooting Techniques of the Successful
Technologist http://www.troubleshooters.com/techniques